Attachment 2 Xarms_and_Braces_Technical_Spec-2017.pdf

PDF 81 KB Posted May 6, 2026

Attached to: SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE - IDIQ Contract for Wood Crossarms and Braces
Solicitation number: 89503426QWA001240-SS
Issued by: Department of Energy

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Written by GovTribe AI · May 6, 2026

This is a Technical Specification document for Crossarms and Braces issued by the Western Area Power Administration in February 2017.

The specification establishes requirements for the furnishing and delivery of crossarms and braces for utility structures. Crossarms may be supplied as either glued laminated timber or solid-sawn lumber, both manufactured from Pacific Coast Douglas Fir. Glued laminated crossarms must meet ANSI/AITC A190.1 and ANSI 05.2 standards with a balanced 24F-V8 lay-up, wet-use adhesives (excluding melamine urea), and a minimum ultimate fiber strength of 6800 psi. Solid-sawn crossarms require seasoned, kiln-dried lumber complying with AWPA C25, ANSI 05.3, and WCLIB Grading Rules with an ultimate design value of 6,600 psi in bending. Wood braces are available in both solid-sawn and glued laminated options with similar material specifications and maximum knot size limitations based on face width. Knee braces must be manufactured from fiberglass with a minimum ultimate strength of 25,000 pounds. All crossarms and braces must be drilled before treatment with holes sized 1/8 inch larger than bolt diameters.

All timber components require treatment with preservative in accordance with AWPA T1, using either pentachlorophenol or copper naphthenate meeting AWPA P8 specifications with Type A solvent per AWPA P9. Copper naphthenate retention requirements vary by crossarm thickness, with penetration to 2.5 inches required longitudinally from bolt holes and ends. Quality control must comply with ANSI/AITC A190.1 for glued laminated timber and WCLIB Grading Rules paragraph 169a for solid-sawn timber, with moisture content not exceeding 22 percent and gradient not exceeding 5 percent. Certified treatment test results and preservative test results must be provided to the Contracting Officer following AWPA M2, A3, A5, and A9 standards. All work is subject to Government inspection per AWPA Standard M2 and ANSI/AITC A190.1, with the Government inspector authorized to take preservative samples for analysis. Storage and handling require protection from elements and off-ground placement.

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Attachment 3 Spec Reference dwgs.pdf	PDF	May 6, 2026
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Attachment 1 Wood and Xarm Specs.pdf	PDF	May 6, 2026

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February 2017

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

CROSSARMS AND BRACES

Attachment E

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page Number

SECTION 1-- CROSSARMS AND BRACES

1.1 GENERAL

1.2 MATERIAL

1. Crossarms

2. Wood Braces

3. Knee Braces

1.3 QUALITY CONTROL

1.4 WOOD TREATMENT

1.5 MARKING

1.6 CERTIFICATIONS

1. Treatment Tests

2. Preservative Tests

1.7 INSPECTIONS

1.8 STORAGE, HANDLING, AND TRANSPORT

SECTION 1-- CROSSARMS AND BRACES

1.1 GENERAL:

Furnish and deliver crossarms and braces as stated in these technical specifications. Materials shall be of the type and grade most suitable for the application and shall conform to industry standards and practices. All materials shall be free from defects, of recent manufacture, and unused.

Referenced Documents:

- American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards latest edition, Specifications and

Dimensions for solid sawn-wood crossarms and braces (ANSI 05.3) and structural glued laminated timber for utility structures (ANSI 05.2) Standards latest editions

- American Institute of Timber Construction (AITC), AITC 117 and ANSI/AITC A190.1

Standards latest editions

- American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA) Standards latest editions

- West Coast Timber Inspection Bureau (WCLIB) Standards latest editions

1.2 MATERIAL:

1. CROSSARMS:

(1) Glued Laminated:

1) General: The laminating stock shall consist of Pacific Coast Douglas Fir.

2) Manufacture: Material, manufacture, and quality control shall be in conformance with ANSI/AITC A190.1, ANSI 05.2, and AITC 117.

3) Laminating Combinations: Shall meet the requirements of ANSI/AITC A190.1, Structural

Glued Laminated Timber, shall have a balanced lay-up meeting 24F-V8, with tension laminations conforming to AITC 302-20, free of heart centers, and provide a minimum ultimate fiber strength of 6800 psi.

4) Adhesives: Wet-use type complying with ANSI/AITC A190.1 and ASTM D 2559.

Melamine urea adhesives shall not be used.

5) Appearance: As specified in AITC 110, Industrial Appearance Grade, and ANSI 05.2.

Edges of crossarms shall be eased to 3/16-inch radius.

(2) Drilling: Crossarms shall be drilled before treatment in accordance with a Western-approved sketch showing crossarm drilling details. Holes in crossarms shall be drilled 1/8 inch larger than their respective bolt diameters.

(3) Cross Section: Crossarms shall have a finished cross section as shown on the drawings.

2. WOOD BRACES:

(1) Solid-Sawn:

1) Lumber: Seasoned Pacific Coast Douglas Fir, cut from live timber, and kiln-dried in accordance with AWPA C25.

2) Manufacture: Manufactured in accordance with ANSI 05.3, free of heart center (FOHC), surfaced four sides (S4s) after seasoning, and incised four sides to depth of 3/16 inch.

Lumber shall provide an ultimate design value of 6,600 psi in bending.

Maximum knot sizes for braces shall be as follows:

Face Width (inches)

Knot Size

3 3/8 and 3 5/8

3/4

4 3/8

5 3/8

1 1/8

8 1/2

1 1/2

(2) Glued Laminated:

1) General: The laminating stock shall consist of Pacific Coast Douglas Fir.

2) Manufacture: Material, manufacture, and quality control shall be in conformance with ANSI/AITC A190.1 and AITC 117.

3) Laminating Combinations: Shall meet the requirements of ANSI/AITC A190.1, Structural

Glued Laminated Timber and shall be fabricated using lumber meeting the requirements for combination 5 as shown in Table B2 of the AITC 117.

4) Adhesives: Wet-use type complying with ANSI/AITC A190.1 and ASTM D 2559.

Melamine urea adhesives shall not be used.

5) Appearance: As specified in AITC 110, Industrial Appearance Grade and ANSI 05.2.

(3) Drilling: Braces shall be drilled before treatment. Holes in braces shall be drilled 1/8 inch larger than their respective bolt diameters.

(4) Cross Section: Wood braces shall have a finished cross section as shown on the drawings.

3. KNEE BRACES:

(1) Fiberglass: Outside knee braces shall be made of fiberglass with a minimum ultimate strength of 25,000 pounds

1.3 QUALITY CONTROL:

1. Glued Laminated Timber: In accordance with ANSI/AITC A190.1.

2. Solid-Sawn Timber: In accordance with paragraph 169a, "Select Structural Transmission

Crossarms, Planks, and Timbers", of the West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau Grading Rules No. 17. Moisture content shall not exceed 22 percent after seasoning, and the moisture content gradient shall not exceed 5 percent between the center and surface of the crossarm or brace.

1.4 WOOD TREATMENT:

1. Glued laminated timber shall be incised on all four sides and treated with a preservative in accordance with AWPA T1 or as stated herein.

2. Solid-sawn timber shall be incised on all four sides and treated with a preservative in accordance with AWPA T1 or as stated herein.

3. Pentachlorophenol and copper naphthenate shall meet the requirements of AWPA P8. Solvent for pentachlorophenol and copper naphthenate shall be Type A per AWPA P9. The minimum retention of copper naphthenate preservative shall be:

Thickness of Crossarm

Assay Zone

(inches from surface)

Copper Naphthenate (pounds/cubic foot as copper metal) under 5

0.4

0.040 over 5

0.5

0.040 Penetration to 2 1/2 inches is required longitudinally from bolt holes and ends.

4. Timber shall be clean and dry to the touch after treatment.

1.5 MARKING:

Glued laminated timber shall be marked in accordance with ANSI 05.2. Solid sawn timber shall be marked in accordance with ANSI 05.3.

1.6 CERTIFICATIONS:

As soon as practical after completion of treatment, provide one certified copy of the records or test results to the COR:

1. TREATMENT TESTS: Crossarms and braces shall be inspected in accordance with AWPA M2 to assure compliance with the requirements in AWPA, or as specified herein. The penetration of preservative shall be tested in accordance with the requirements of AWPA A3. The retention of preservative shall be tested in accordance with the requirements of AWPA A5 or AWPA A9.

Treatment test results shall show:

(1) Compliance with applicable AWPA specifications.

(2) Number and type of pieces per charge.

(3) Specie of wood.

(4) Kind of preservative used.

(5) Penetration obtained.

(6) Retention obtained.

(7) Moisture content after treatment.

2. PRESERVATIVE TESTS: The preservative used in the treating of crossarms and braces shall be tested in accordance with AWPA M2 and AWPA A5 (Method 5 for pentachlorophenol and Method 7 for copper naphthenate.

1.7 INSPECTIONS:

1. All work performed shall be subject to inspection, in accordance with AWPA Standard M2 and

ANSI/AITC A190.1 and AITC 200, and no crossarms shall be shipped until all required inspections have been made. The Contractor shall furnish reasonable facilities, including skids, blocks, sufficient space and personnel to provide for laying out in an orderly manner and handling and turning a reasonable number of crossarms at a time for inspection. Inspection will be made before and after treatment unless one or both inspections are waived. The Government inspector shall have the right to take samples of the preservative solution or ingredients thereof, whenever he may elect to do so. Such samples shall be analyzed whenever the Government may desire to have the analysis made. Acceptance of the materials or the waiving of the inspection thereof shall in no way relieve the Contractor of the responsibility for furnishing materials meeting the requirements of this specification.

1.8 STORAGE, HANDLING, AND TRANSPORT:

Crossarms and braces shall be protected from elements and stored off ground.

1.1 GENERAL:

1.2 MATERIAL:

1. CROSSARMS:

2. WOOD BRACES:

3. KNEE BRACES:

1.3 QUALITY CONTROL:

1. Glued Laminated Timber: In accordance with ANSI/AITC A190.1.

2. Solid-Sawn Timber: In accordance with paragraph 169a, "Select Structural Transmission Crossarms, Planks, and Timbers", of the West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau Grading Rules No. 17. Moisture content shall not exceed 22 percent after seasoning, ...

1.4 WOOD TREATMENT:

1. Glued laminated timber shall be incised on all four sides and treated with a preservative in accordance with AWPA T1 or as stated herein.

2. Solid-sawn timber shall be incised on all four sides and treated with a preservative in accordance with AWPA T1 or as stated herein.

4. Timber shall be clean and dry to the touch after treatment.

1.5 MARKING:

1.6 CERTIFICATIONS:

1.7 INSPECTIONS:

1. All work performed shall be subject to inspection, in accordance with AWPA Standard M2 and ANSI/AITC A190.1 and AITC 200, and no crossarms shall be shipped until all required inspections have been made. The Contractor shall furnish reasonable faci...

1.8 STORAGE, HANDLING, AND TRANSPORT:

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated May 6, 2026.